The United States and Japan will step up their defence cooperation to deal with the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as tensions in East Asia remain high, officials from the two allies said on Thursday.

"It is something that law enforcement agencies all over the world have been looking for."

He also envisages new devices that test a worker's sweat or saliva before they operate machinery.

Smart office lighting and personalised shift schedules are other key goals at the Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) for Alertness, Safety and Productivity, which was opened at Monash in Victoria on Wednesday.

Its multi-disciplinary team from 26 universities, tech companies and government agencies also aim to find better ways to diagnose insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea.

Getting a good night's sleep was not as simple as it sounded, said Bob Baldwin, parliamentary secretary to the minister for industry.

"Over 20 per cent of the population are affected by a sleeping disorder."

The government is investing $14.5 million in the centre over seven years.

"We want a more comprehensive approach to the management of alertness," said Prof Rajaratnam.

The aim was to transfer neurobiological knowledge into the real world.

New office lighting systems could reset the body clock and directly activate the brain to improve alertness and performance.

"It could give workers a boost to get through their shift, feeling clearheaded and up to the job," Prof Rajaratnam said.

"Sleep disorders are highly prevalent in our society.

"By identifying the vulnerable individuals, we could develop targeted treatments and vastly improve the safety and performance of workers."